Search This Blog

Casablanca Poster Sets Record in Movie Collectibles

Only surviving example of Italian issue poster is most valuable Casablanca poster ever sold

DALLAS, Texas (July 30, 2017) — The only known surviving Italian issue movie poster for Casablanca sold Saturday, July 29, for a record $478,000 at a public auction of vintage movie posters held by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas. Measuring a massive 55.5 by 78.25 inches, the 1946 Casablanca Italian 4 Fogli poster matched the world record for the most valuable movie poster ever sold at public auction.

"The buyer has just set a world record and acquired what we in the poster collecting world would equate to a masterpiece," said Grey Smith, Director of Vintage Posters at Heritage Auctions. "The stunning artistry put into this poster makes is stand head and shoulders above any paper produced for the film."

Previous Italian posters for the film have sold for as much as $203,000 and U.S. issues of the poster have fetched $191,200. Each of the previous record holders were sold by Heritage Auctions, the world's largest auctioneer of vintage movie posters.

The poster is the first of its kind to surface in recent history. Featuring artwork by Luigi Martinati, the image of the cast of characters is considered the best image found in any of this film's numerous advertisements, Smith said.

The auction featured additional rare posters from the film with a half sheet poster auctioned for $65,725 and a post-war Spanish release poster selling for $35,850.

Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world's largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago, Palm Beach, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.

DALLAS, Texas (August 11, 2017) — A superb collection of rare watches from a highly influential tech entrepreneur will capture the attention of watch collectors during Heritage Auctions' Timepieces Signature Auction Oct. 24 in New York City. The collection has been lovingly curated over time by the consignor and features some of the finest models from the world's greatest horological houses.

Several important and rare Patek Philippe timepieces are being offered in the collection, but these two stand above the rest: A Patek Philippe Ref. 5013R-010 in Rose Gold, with Self-Winding Minute Repeating movement,…